The IFL will be the first organization to bring a major professional mixed martial arts event to Houston when it hosts an 11-fight card Feb. 2 at Reliant Arena.

"Texas is one of the hotbeds for this sport," said IFL co-founder and commissioner Kurt Otto, who launched mixed martial arts' first team-based promotion last year. "Our goal is to go to as many arenas that most large organizations would not go to try to expose as many people as possible to our team format in MMA, which has not been done before."

The more established UFC has expressed interest in bringing its popular brand of mixed martial arts to Texas but has yet to make a move.

That opened the door for the IFL to come to Houston first, with a show that will feature four teams and a "super fight" between former UFC welterweight champion Carlos Newton and Matt Lindland.

The matchups will feature the Anacondas, coached by Bas Rutten, facing the Silverbacks, guided by Pat Miletich.

The second team battle will have the Antonio Inoki-coached Sabres taking on the Scorpions, coached by Don Frye.

The IFL will have its first full season in 2007 with a dozen teams. Another six teams will be added over the course of the year..

In the IFL format, teams compete with five fighters in five weight classes. The team that wins three out of five matches wins. The top teams advance to the finals in Los Angeles next year.

The bouts are held in an oversized five-rope boxing
ring, with three four-minute rounds.